Which external monitor is best for a Sigma fp cinema rig?

Question

I'm literally panicking because my short film shoot starts next Tuesday in London and I still haven't picked a monitor for my Sigma fp. I've been looking at the Atomos Shinobi because its light and cheap but then I read it doesnt support external recording which is kinda the whole point of the fp to get that 12-bit raw. But then the Blackmagic Video Assist is way more expensive and people say the colors dont match the fp screen at all. I have like 600 bucks left in my budget and I really need something that can handle the micro-HDMI port without it falling out or losing signal mid-take. Should I just get the Ninja V or is there something better I'm missing?

DataNomicon · Accepted Answer

For 12-bit raw, the Atomos Ninja V 5-inch 4K Recording Monitor is the most logical choice. It fits your budget and handles ProRes RAW reliably. You definitely need the SmallRig Sigma fp Cage CCP2518 with an HDMI cable clamp to keep that micro-HDMI port from failing mid-shoot.

Support for 12-bit ProRes RAW

Well within 600 budget

Clamp prevents signal drops Color shifts are common but manageable via custom LUTs.

XenoXplorer · Answer

Unfortunately, the Ninja V build quality is kinda disappointing these days. Not as good as expected. Had fan noise issues with mine. If you want 12-bit, try the Blackmagic Video Assist 5-inch 12G HDR. It records BRAW. Way better for the fp sensor than ProRes RAW. Color mismatch is real tho, but easily fixed with a LUT. TL;DR: Ninja is the default, but BMVA 12G wins for RAW workflow.

FrozenCircuit · Answer

Re: "Unfortunately, the Ninja V build quality is kinda..." - yeah, it is pretty plasticky for the price. Ive seen the casing crack around the mounts more than once if you over-tighten things even slightly. Before jumping on an expensive recorder, what NLE are you actually using for the edit? That really dictates which raw format makes sense for your workflow since converting later is a huge time sink. If you're trying to stay under 600, dont forget:

Media costs (fast external drives add up)

A high-quality micro-HDMI to full HDMI cable

Power solutions and extra batteries You might be better off recording 12-bit to a portable SSD via the USB port and just using a high-brightness field monitor for framing. Its way easier on the batteries and usually feels more stable than relying on micro-HDMI for a recording signal.